Precinct 81: Four dead, hundreds hurt. Same streets, same story.

Mar 23 - Two sedans slammed together on Atlantic Avenue. The blow hit one car’s rear, the other’s front. A 24-year-old driver took the worst of it—back hurt, shaken, strapped in tight.

According to the police report, two sedans traveling westbound collided on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn at 21:55. The Tesla’s center back end was struck; the Jeep hit with its center front. The 24-year-old male Tesla driver suffered back injuries and shock. He wore a lap belt and harness. The report lists unspecified contributing factors. No driver errors like failure to yield or speeding are named. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash left the Tesla driver injured, underscoring the force of car-on-car impacts.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4801045 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 23 - Luis Cruz stepped from his car. An e-bike delivery worker sped through a stop sign. The crash was sudden. Cruz died on the street. The rider stayed. The intersection has seen this before. The system pushes speed. The danger remains.

Gothamist reported on March 23, 2025, that Luis Cruz, 49, died after an e-bike delivery worker "sped through a stop sign" and struck him as he exited his double-parked car in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. Witness Jack Collins said, "He died basically on the spot." The e-bike rider remained at the scene. No arrests were made. The article notes this intersection is known for frequent stop sign violations: "It's not a unicorn incident. It's happened a lot." The piece highlights systemic issues, including delivery app pressures and gaps in e-bike regulation. City data shows e-bikes account for less than 2% of traffic deaths, but the policy debate continues. Lawmakers have called for tighter rules, as delivery workers face incentives to rush.

• E-Bike Rider Runs Stop, Kills Pedestrian, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-23

Mar 21 - A taxi turning left on Stuyvesant struck an 81-year-old woman in a marked crosswalk. She suffered broken bones. Police cite driver inattention and failure to yield. The impact was violent. The woman remained conscious.

According to the police report, at 10:45 AM on Stuyvesant Avenue near Chauncey Street in Brooklyn, a taxi making a left turn struck an 81-year-old woman crossing in a marked crosswalk. She suffered fractures and dislocations to her knee, lower leg, and foot. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' and 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' as contributing factors. The point of impact was the taxi's right front quarter panel. The pedestrian was conscious at the scene. No victim actions contributed to the crash.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800876 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 21 - Motorscooter hit a parked SUV in Brooklyn. Rider suffered arm injuries and abrasions. Police cite driver inattention and improper lane use. Metal twisted. Danger lingered on the curb.

According to the police report, a motorscooter traveling west on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn struck a parked SUV at 9:05 AM. The 22-year-old scooter driver suffered upper arm injuries and abrasions but remained conscious and was not ejected. Police listed "Passing or Lane Usage Improper" and "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as contributing factors. The parked SUV was hit on its left side doors, while the scooter took damage to its center front end. No victim actions were cited as contributing factors. The crash underscores the risk posed by driver inattention and improper lane use around stationary vehicles.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4800461 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 15 - Four people hurt in a chain-reaction crash on Fulton Street. Sedans and SUVs slammed together. Alcohol played a role. Drivers and passengers suffered shock, whiplash, and pain. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a multi-vehicle crash struck Fulton Street near Malcolm X Boulevard at 12:48 a.m. Four occupants—drivers and passengers—were injured. The report lists alcohol involvement as a contributing factor. Vehicles, including sedans and SUVs, were stopped or moving westbound when struck from behind, causing center back-end damage. Injuries included whiplash, head abrasions, and whole-body pain. The police report cites alcohol involvement as the primary driver error. No pedestrians or cyclists were involved. The crash underscores the risk of impaired driving and the violence of rear-end impacts in city traffic.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4799783 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 13 - A 29-year-old woman suffered knee and lower leg injuries after a pick-up truck hit her at a Brooklyn intersection. The vehicle impacted the pedestrian on its right front quarter panel. The victim was conscious and sustained contusions and bruises.

According to the police report, a 29-year-old female pedestrian was injured when a 2024 Chevrolet pick-up truck traveling west on Broadway struck her at the intersection with Marcus Garvey Blvd in Brooklyn. The point of impact was the truck's right front quarter panel. The pedestrian was located at the intersection at the time of the collision and suffered injuries to her knee, lower leg, and foot, including contusions and bruises. She remained conscious after the crash. The report lists unspecified contributing factors for the pedestrian but does not identify any driver errors or violations such as failure to yield or speeding. The driver was licensed and traveling straight ahead at the time of impact. Vehicle damage was limited to the right front quarter panel.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4798836 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 8 - A driver out on bail smashed into a Toyota in Bushwick. The crash killed Hayden Wallace and injured three others. The driver fled, leaving chaos behind. Police tracked him for over a year. Charges stack up, but the loss remains.

NY Daily News (March 8, 2025) reports that Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested after a deadly hit-and-run in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Seabrook had been out on bail for a previous crash involving police. On January 8, 2024, he crashed into a Toyota, killing Hayden Wallace and injuring three others. Seabrook fled the scene, abandoning his vehicle. The article notes, "All accidents are useless but this one was even more useless because [Seabrook] had so many other offenses." Seabrook faces 23 charges, including manslaughter, leaving the scene, unlicensed driving, and speeding. The case highlights repeated driver offenses and questions about bail and enforcement. Police needed over a year to arrest Seabrook, who had a history of fleeing crashes and driving without a license.

• Repeat Offender Kills Passenger In Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-08

Mar 3 - A dump truck turned right on Withers Street. It struck a man crouched in the road. The driver fled. The man died at Elmhurst Hospital. Police are still investigating. Brooklyn’s streets claim more lives. The toll grows.

Gothamist reported on March 3, 2025, that a dump truck driver fatally struck a man in his 20s on Withers Street near Woodpoint Road in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. The man was 'crouched in the street to pick up food' when the northbound truck turned right and hit him, according to NYPD officials. The driver, a 49-year-old man, left the scene. No arrests have been made. The NYPD's Collision Investigation Squad is investigating. The article notes this crash followed two other recent fatal collisions in Brooklyn. The incident underscores persistent dangers for pedestrians and ongoing issues with drivers leaving crash scenes. NYPD data shows at least 10 traffic deaths in Brooklyn so far this year, matching last year’s pace.

• Dump Truck Kills Pedestrian In Williamsburg, Gothamist, Published 2025-03-03

Mar 2 - A man sped through a stop sign in Brownsville. His Mercedes hit a school bus. His passenger died. He ran from the wreck in a taxi. Police found him later. The victim’s family mourns. The street remains unchanged.

NY Daily News reported on March 2, 2025, that Tyree Epps, 32, drove a Mercedes-Benz without a license, ran a stop sign on Van Sinderen Ave, and crashed into a school bus. The article states, “After the crash, Epps hopped in a taxi and took off, leaving his 26-year-old passenger, Imani Vance, in the front seat suffering severe head trauma.” Epps faces charges of manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, leaving the scene, and unlicensed driving. The bus driver survived. The crash exposes ongoing risks from unlicensed, reckless drivers and the persistent danger at city intersections. The victim’s family is left to grieve and organize a funeral, while the intersection remains a site of loss.

• Unlicensed Driver Flees Fatal Brooklyn Crash, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-02

Mar 1 - A 26-year-old man crossing Greene Ave with the signal was struck by an SUV turning left in Brooklyn. The pedestrian suffered bruises and hip injuries. Police cited the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the primary cause of the crash.

According to the police report, at 21:20 on Greene Ave near Malcolm X Blvd in Brooklyn, a 26-year-old male pedestrian crossing with the signal was struck by a 2022 Hyundai SUV traveling east and making a left turn. The vehicle hit the pedestrian at the center front end, causing contusions and injuries to his hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity level 3. The report explicitly identifies the driver’s failure to yield right-of-way as the contributing factor. While pedestrian confusion is noted, it is secondary to the driver’s error. The driver was licensed and operating the vehicle legally. This collision underscores the dangers posed by drivers failing to yield to pedestrians legally crossing intersections.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797191 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Mar 1 - A Kia slammed into a Toyota on Stockholm Street. Hayden Wallace, 29, died. Two friends survived with critical wounds. The driver fled. Police arrested Christopher Seabrook. The crash left a new life cut short, a city shaken.

According to the NY Daily News (published March 1, 2025), Christopher Seabrook, 28, was arrested for the hit-and-run crash that killed Hayden Wallace, 29, in Bushwick on January 8, 2024. Seabrook allegedly crashed a Kia Sportage into a Toyota Yaris carrying Wallace and friends, then fled the scene on foot. Wallace died; two others were critically injured. The Toyota’s driver was also charged with driving without a license. Seabrook faces charges including manslaughter, criminally negligent homicide, and leaving the scene. The article quotes Wallace’s aunt: “He lived life to the fullest. He was only 29 years old and lit up every room he entered.” The case highlights the deadly consequences of reckless driving and fleeing crash scenes in New York City.

• Bushwick Hit-And-Run Kills Passenger, NY Daily News, Published 2025-03-01

Feb 28 - A drunk driver blasted through a red light at 72 mph. He struck Katherine Harris, killing her steps from home. The car crashed on. Blood alcohol twice the limit. The street became a crime scene. Lives shattered in seconds.

NY Daily News reported on February 28, 2025, that Erick Trujillo, 29, was sentenced to three to nine years in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter. On April 16, 2023, Trujillo drove his Volvo at 72 mph—nearly triple the speed limit—through a red light at Atlantic Ave and Clinton Street in Brooklyn. He struck pedestrian Katherine Harris, 31, killing her instantly, then rear-ended another car and crashed into an outdoor dining shed. Trujillo's blood alcohol level was .17, more than twice the legal limit. The article quotes Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez: "This defendant made a disastrous decision when he got behind the wheel of a car while intoxicated." The case highlights the lethal consequences of impaired driving and excessive speed, underscoring systemic risks for pedestrians in New York City.

• Drunk Driver Speeds, Kills Pedestrian in Brooklyn, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-28

Feb 26 - Two SUVs slammed together on Howard Avenue in Brooklyn. A passenger in the back seat took a neck injury. Police blame driver inattention. Metal twisted. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, two sport utility vehicles collided head-on at 8:10 AM on Howard Avenue in Brooklyn. The crash injured a 35-year-old male passenger seated in the right rear of one SUV. He suffered a neck injury, described as whiplash, but was not ejected and remained conscious. The report lists 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the contributing factor. Both vehicles sustained heavy front-end damage. The crash highlights the risk posed by distracted drivers on city streets.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797086 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 24 - A 33-year-old man crossing outside a crosswalk in Brooklyn was struck by a southbound sedan. The driver’s inattention caused the collision, leaving the pedestrian with bruises and lower leg injuries. The vehicle showed no damage despite the impact.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Ralph Avenue in Brooklyn struck a 33-year-old male pedestrian who was crossing outside a crosswalk. The pedestrian sustained contusions and injuries to his knee, lower leg, and foot, and remained conscious after the collision. The report cites 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as the primary contributing factor to the crash. The vehicle’s point of impact was the left front bumper, yet the sedan sustained no damage. The pedestrian was not at an intersection or crosswalk at the time, but the report does not list any contributing factors related to his actions. This crash highlights the dangers posed by distracted driving, which directly caused harm to a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4797298 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 23 - Two women suffered back injuries and shock in a multi-sedan collision on Fulton Street in Brooklyn. Both were restrained by lap belts and harnesses. The crash involved three sedans traveling westbound, with impact centered on rear and front ends.

According to the police report, the crash occurred on Fulton Street in Brooklyn involving three sedans all traveling westbound. The vehicles collided with impacts centered on the center back end and center front end of the cars. Two female occupants were injured: a 52-year-old driver and a 66-year-old front passenger. Both suffered back injuries and were in shock, reporting pain or nausea. Both were restrained by lap belts and harnesses. The report lists contributing factors for the injured driver as 'Unspecified,' with no explicit driver errors such as failure to yield or speeding noted. The collision appears to be a chain reaction or multi-vehicle impact, but no pedestrian or cyclist was involved or cited. The focus remains on the vehicle collision dynamics and occupant injuries.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4795536 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 21 - A sedan parked on a Brooklyn street struck a southbound e-bike, partially ejecting the bicyclist. The rider suffered upper arm injuries and bruises. Limited view and driver confusion contributed to the collision, exposing dangers in shared road spaces.

According to the police report, the crash occurred at 19:11 near 920 Broadway in Brooklyn. A sedan, parked with its left side doors facing the street, was struck on that side by a southbound e-bike. The bicyclist, a 40-year-old man, was partially ejected and sustained injuries to his shoulder and upper arm, including contusions and bruises. The report lists 'View Obstructed/Limited' and 'Other Vehicular' as contributing factors, indicating the sedan driver’s limited visibility played a role. Additionally, 'Pedestrian/Bicyclist/Other Pedestrian Error/Confusion' was noted, but no helmet use or crossing signal issues were cited. The collision's impact on the bicyclist highlights the risks posed by obstructed views and driver errors in urban traffic environments.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794926 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 21 - A box truck rolled south on Broadway. A 59-year-old man stood in the road. The truck’s right front struck his head. He fell, unconscious, blood pooling. The truck did not stop. Driver inattention marked the scene.

According to the police report, a box truck traveling south near 1040 Broadway in Brooklyn struck a 59-year-old man who was standing in the roadway. The report states, 'A box truck moved south. A 59-year-old man stood in the road. The truck struck his head. He fell, unconscious. Blood spread on the street. The truck rolled on, untouched.' The pedestrian suffered severe head lacerations and lost consciousness at the scene. Police cite 'Driver Inattention/Distraction' as a contributing factor in the crash. The truck’s right front quarter panel made contact, and the vehicle sustained no damage. The report does not list any pedestrian behavior as a contributing factor. The focus remains on the driver’s inattention, which led to the severe injury of a vulnerable road user.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4794925 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 18 - A northbound SUV making a left turn struck a northbound e-bike on Broadway in Brooklyn. The e-bike rider was ejected and suffered a fractured hip and upper leg. Police cited failure to yield and unsafe speed as contributing factors.

According to the police report, a 2019 Nissan SUV was making a left turn on Broadway in Brooklyn at 9:00 AM when it collided with a northbound e-bike traveling straight ahead. The report lists 'Failure to Yield Right-of-Way' and 'Unsafe Speed' as the contributing factors from the SUV driver. The 27-year-old male e-bike rider was ejected from his vehicle and sustained a fracture and dislocation to his hip and upper leg, classified as injury severity level 3. The e-bike rider was not using any safety equipment at the time. The SUV sustained damage to its right front quarter panel, and the e-bike was damaged at the left rear bumper. The collision underscores the dangers posed by driver errors such as failure to yield and excessive speed in interactions with vulnerable road users.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4793743 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19

Feb 18 - A BMW X5 veered off Belt Parkway near Exit 14. The SUV struck a tree. Marcus Joseph, 41, died at the scene. No passengers. No bystanders hurt. The crash left only silence and wreckage on the Brooklyn road.

NY Daily News (2025-02-18) reports Marcus Joseph, 41, died after his BMW X5 spun out of control on the Belt Parkway near Exit 14 in Starrett City, Brooklyn. Police said the SUV 'skidded off the road and slammed into a tree.' Joseph was pronounced dead at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The article does not mention weather or road conditions. The incident highlights the dangers of high-speed corridors like the Belt Parkway, where loss of control can prove fatal. No charges were filed. The report underscores the persistent risks for all road users on New York City highways.

• BMW Skids, Slams Tree On Belt Parkway, NY Daily News, Published 2025-02-18

Feb 4 - A sedan struck a pedestrian in a Brooklyn crosswalk. The driver was distracted. The man suffered a serious head injury. He was semiconscious at the scene. Impact fell hard. Streets stayed dangerous.

According to the police report, a sedan traveling south on Broadway in Brooklyn hit a male pedestrian crossing at a marked crosswalk near Myrtle Avenue around 5 p.m. The pedestrian suffered a serious head injury and was semiconscious when emergency crews arrived. The report lists "Driver Inattention/Distraction" as the contributing factor. The vehicle was going straight ahead at the time of the crash. No information was given about the driver’s license status or the presence of other occupants. The police report cites driver distraction as the cause. No pedestrian fault or other contributing behaviors are mentioned.

• Motor Vehicle Collisions – CrashID 4790766 - Crashes, Persons, Vehicles , NYC Open Data, Accessed 2025-09-19